30 December 2023 , 20:04
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In a nod to the New Year’s Honours List, two long-standing Knights of the Realm sat side-by-side in the City Ground directors’ box.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Dave Brailsford did not appear to engage in too much animated conversation but you can imagine how any chat might have gone.
“Are you the marginal gains man?”
“Yep.”
“Don’t suppose you know a substantial gains man?”
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That is what United need and the doubts about whether or not Erik ten Hag can provide those substantial gains become more compelling every time his team post performances as lamentable as this one. Huge credit goes to a ferociously committed Forest and their manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
To find a way to win after the pain of conceding a soft, late-ish equaliser bodes well for the rest of the season. Nuno has inherited a collection of highly-energetic players whose technical levels are not quite where they need to be but he is already getting a very decent tune out of them.
But this result was another testament to United’s mediocrity, make no mistake. This is a United team that is rarely on the front foot from the first whistle, that hardly ever imposes itself on its opponent, even if that opponent is lower-ranked.
It was a good half an hour before they managed a shot on target and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s effort was more pass-back than shot. Although his first-ever Premier League goal was probably lauded a little too lavishly, it did not help that Rasmus Hojlund had to miss the game through illness.
Sir Dave Brailsford was sat next to Sir Alex Ferguson at the City Ground (Sky Sports)One of the ramifications of his absence was that Marcus Rashford was, initially, used in a central role and even when he is in any sort of form, that is a position that he still does not feel comfortable in. On paper, the combination of Alejandro Garnacho, Rashford and Antony looks like it should be quite potent but that is without reckoning for Antony’s startling rut of under-achievement.
It really is becoming harder to put a finger on Antony’s strengths, simply because there do not appear to be any. A rascal from Ajax really must have slipped an extra zero – or even two – onto the price tag when United were not looking.
To be fair to Antony, he was only a contender – albeit a strong one – for the worst performer of a truly terrible first half of football at the City Ground. But suffice to say the travelling support was not too dissatisfied when Antony was hooked early in the second half.
Antony failed to take his opportunity in another lacklustre performance (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)And cruelly, they will probably not lose any sleep over the fact that Antony appeared to be injured.
Antony has had his moments in his time at United but it is hard to see a golden future for him at the club when pitiful contributions such as this one are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Again, to single out anyone for significant criticism would be harsh as this is a side that collectively underperforms on a frequent basis.
But after Nicolas Dominguez had given Forest a deserved lead, United were gifted a way back into the contest by Matt Turner. It is fine playing out from the back but it is probably best if your keeper is even remotely accomplished with his feet. Turner gave the ball away, Garnacho was clever and Rashford’s finish was a throwback to his best form.
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United should have gone on to win the game but somehow allowed Forest to launch a counter-attack – started, ironically, by a Turner save – that went unchallenged until Morgan Gibbs-White struck a beautiful winner.
As Forest and Turner held on inside a febrile City Ground, the TV camera again focused on the knights in the posh seats. Next to Sir Alex, Brailsford looked particularly stony-faced. Marginal gains? United are having a laugh if they think that is all they need.